Combined door-checking and doorholding device



July 28, 1942. R. I. SCHONITZER HOLDING DEVICE COMBINED DOOR-CHECKING AND DOOR- Filed July 27, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. -3 INVENTOR By RUDOLPH SCHON/TZER ATI'OR/VEIS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-l2 July 28, 1942- R. l. SCHONITZER V I COMBINED DOOR-CHECKING AND DOOR-HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 27. 1958 FIG-9 ziii R mu m 4 m W & MN 0 a O/W s w% u S 6 m F W J n QM w R y 23, 1942- k. 1. SCHONITZER 2,291,41

COMBINED DOOR-CHECKING AND DOOR-HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 27, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VE N T0]? (N5 RUDOLPH I. SCHON/TZER ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATE COMBINED DOOIt-CHECKINGAN D noon- HOLDING'DEVICE Rudolph I. Schonltzer, Shaker Heights, Ohio Application July 27, 1938, Serial No.'221,5lli

38 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for checking the opening movement of a hinged door, such as an automobile door, or for releasably holding or retaining such a door in an open position or condition, or for accomplishing both of such functions.

The general object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the type described which is of simple and inexpensive construction, of strong and sturdy character, and which performs in a particularly efficient manner its doorchecking function or its door-holding function or its combined door-checking and door-holding functions.

A more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the type described which includes two cooperatively related parts, one of such parts being adapted for securement to a door structure or to a supporting structure therefor, and the other of said parts being adapted for securement to the other of said structures, the cooperative relation of such parts being of such character as to enable the door structure to have its opening movement checked or to enable said door structure to be .releasably held or retained in an open position or condition or in any selected. one of ,a. series of open positions or to enable both of such doorchecking and door-holding functions to be accomplished.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the type described in which one of the aforesaid parts thereof includes an arm and the other of such parts includes yieldingly mounted rollable means arranged in oppositely spaced relation and between which said arm extends.

Another more specific object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the type described having rollable means so mounted as to reduce the liability'of such rollable means sliding or slipping along the arm which extends therealong.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision of a door-holding device which includes yieldingly mounted rollable means along which an arm extends, said arm being provided with means for cooperation with such rollable means in releasably holding or retaining a door structure against undesired closing or in an open position or condition.

Another specific object of the present invention is the provision of a door-checking and doorholding device which includes a casing structure along which an arm extends, said arm being provi d with means for cooperation with such rollab e means in releasably holding or retaining a door structure in an open position and said arm also being provided with means for cooperation with such casing structure in checking the opening movement of said door structure.

Another specific object of the present invention is .the provision of a door-checking and doorholding device so constructed and arranged that I a multiple-stage checking action results, the first or preliminary stage being of yieldable character and relatively slight as compared with a later stage, with the consequent cushioning of the closing in movement of the retaining element or elements of such device, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Other specific objects of the present invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

For the disclosure of the present invention, the accompanying drawings illustrate and the present specification describes several combined doorchecking and door-holding devices, and parts therefor, constructed in accordance with the present invention, and an explanation will hereinafter be made as to the way in which any of such devices may be easily and simply converted into either a door-checking device only or a doorholding device only.

In said drawings, Fig. 1 is a horizontal sec.- tional view of a portion of a standard automobile door and a portion of a standard automobile body on which such door is hinged, said door and said body having associated therewith, for door-checking and door-holding purposes, a device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present'invention, the door being in the predetermined open position in which it may be releasably held or retained by such device; Fig. 2 is a similar view, with the door in closed position; Fig. 3 is a vertical view thereof, partly in section and partly in elevation, on the line 3-3,

Fig. 1, the door being in the predetermined open position in which it may be releasably held or retained by such device; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the retaining unit of the device of Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, a portion of the casing cover part or such unit being broken away to show interior parts; Fig.5 'is a longitudinal sectional view of such retaining unit, on the line 5-5, Fig. 4; Fi 6 is an end view of such retaining unit; Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the arm of the device' shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the bumper means provided with yieldingly mounted rollable means ct such arm being in section; Fig. 8 is a view art.

similar a: m. 4 but showing a modified m; ,0!

retaining unit; Fig. 9 is alongitudinal sectional view of the retaining unit oi Fig. 8, the view being on the line 9-9, Fig. ,8; Fig. 10 is a side elevation oi a reliable member of elongated form journal bearings shown in. Fig; 10; Fig. 12 is by the reference numeral I2, being here shown. Associated with said door and said body, ior checking the opening movement oi said door when said door reaches a predetermined open position and for releasably holding or retaining said door in a predetermined open position, is a a view similar to Fig. 10 but showing a reliable.

member of elongated form provided with a modified form oi journal bearings, the journal bearings being in section on the-line l2.l 2, Fig. 13; Fig. 13 is an end view of the reliable member and view similar to Figs. 4 and 8 but showing another modified iorm oi retaining unit; Fig. .15 is a ion-- itudinal sectional view 'of the retaining unit oi.

Fig. 14, the view being on the line I 5i5,'Fig. 14;

Fig. 6 is a view similar'to Figs. 4, 8;and' i4 but .iournalbearings shown in Fig. 12;:Fig. 14 is a.

showing another modified form of retaining unit;

Fig. 17 is a longitudinal sectional vieymo retaining unit shown in Fig. 16, the ,yiew. being.

on the line I 1-41, Fig. 16; Fig. 18 is; a sectional view oi'the retaining unit of Figs. 8 and 9 and an arm having a modified form of bumper means for multiple-stage checking purposes; Fig. 19 is a detail longitudinal sectional view 01' an arm provided with a modified iorm' of projectin means for cooperation with the reliable means of a retainable unit in effecting the. releasable retention oia door, in a predetermined-openis a sectional, view, showing two opposed rollers in retaining cooperation with a portion of the arm shown in Fig. 21, for the purpose of enabling a. door to be releasably retained or held in one predetermined open position; Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but with the retaining unit of Figs. 8 and 9 provided with resilient means for guiding an arm through such unit; Fig. 24 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining unit shown in Fig. 23, the view being on the line 24-24, Fig. 23, and with a portion of an arm extending through such unit; and Fig. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view of the retaining unit shown in Fig. 23, the view being on the line 25-25, Fig. 23.

Before the present invention is described in detail, it is to be understood that such invention is not limited to the details of construction and/or the specific arrangement of parts herein illustrated and/or described, as the invention obviously may take other forms. It also is to be I understood that the phraseology or terminology herein employed is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, as there is no intention and no desire to limit the present-invention, as herein disclosed and as defined in the appended claims, beyond the requirements of the prior For the illustration of the present invention, there'is shown in the accompanying drawings a portion of at standard automobile door l0 and a portion of -a standard automobile body II on which such door is mounted by suitable hinges of either the concealed or the exposed type, one such hinge, of the exposed type and designated concealed type door-checking and door-holding device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

As will hereinaitermore fully appear, each of the door-checking and door-holding devices here illustrated comprises a suitable retaining unit and ,a suitable arm assembly for cooperation there-,-

with. here shown, each such arm assembly comprises a rigid arm which extends through such a retaining unit and which is provided with suitable bumper means for cooperation with such I retaining unit in checking the opening movement of adoor when said door reaches a predetermined open position and which arm is also provided with suitable means for cooperation with such retaining unit in releasably holding or ret'aining such door in a predetermined open position. Each of the retaining units here shown is adapted to be rigidly secured to and enclosed by either a door structure or a supporting structure therefor, and each of the arms of the arm asseni blies here shown is adapted to be pivotally connected to theother structure, the aforesaid two means of said arm, for door-checking and doorholding cooperation with such a retaining unit, being enclosed by the structure which encloses said retaining unit. a

In the combined door-checking and door-holding device illustrated in Figs. 1 to .7 inclusive, the retaining unit is suitably secured to and enclosed by the automobile body II, and the arm l3 of the arm assembly, which arm as here'shown is of generally fiat form and of metal or the like, is pivotally connected to the automobile door iii. For the pivotal connection of said arm to said door, a suitable two-part bracket I4 is spotwelded or otherwise rigidly secured to the hinge side edge wall l5 of the .door I0, and. on a pin l6 carried by said bracket is pivotally mounted one end of'the arm I3. In the jamb wall 20 of the automobile body- H is a suitable slot 21 through which said arm extends, the free end portion of said arm. located withinsaid automobile body, being provided with suitable bumper means, such as the bumper member 22, for

opening movement of the door l0 when said door reaches a predetermined open position, and the free end portion of said arm also being provided with suitable means, such as one or more depressions in or one or more projections on said arm, for cooperation with such retaining unit in releasably-holding or retaining the door III in a predetermined open position.,

The arm bumper member 22, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and in Fig. 7, is a simple blocklike member of any suitable materiaL'the shape and size of suchmember being unimportant insofar as the broad aspects of this invention are concerned. As here shown, said member 22 is of resilient material, such asrubber, and of generally cylindrical form with substantially fiat end faces, the inner end face 23 of such member being a checking face for checking contact with a checking face of the retaining unit in yieldingly checking the opening movement of the door l0 when such door reaches a predetermined open position.

The bumper member 22 may be mounted on the iree end portion of the arm iii in any suitable thereof, ratherthan extended outwardly from such'edge wall, as here shown), such retaining unit is here secured to a transverse partition 30 slipped onto the free pend portion of such arm,

and the retention of such bum r member on 'said'arm end portion is here effected by a simple cotter pin 2S,'s'ecured in a suitable aperture with which such arm end portion is provided. If de-' sired, suitable backing means, such as a metal bacldng disc, may be provided for such bumper member, the metal disc 25 here shown being interposed between such cotter pin and the adjacent or outer end face of said bumper member.

Althdugh the free end portion of the arm l3 may be provided with any suitable means, such as one or more recesses or one or more projections, for cooperation with the retaining unit in effecting the releasable retention of the door Ill stamping operation, with two such projections 28 on one of its faces (one projection adjacent each longitudinal edge of such face). and with one such projection 28 on its other face, said single projection being located opposite the space between said two projections and hence being in spaced As a result of such spacing or arrangement of said three arm projections, the effect of torsional strain on the. arm 13, during its cooperation with the retaining unit in releasably holding the door I0 against undesired closing, is eifectively overcome or counteracted, as

.will be readily understoodas the description of If desired, how- I the present invention proceeds. ever, such projections may be provided by initially forming the arm therewith, and in Figs. 19 and 20, there'is shown a part of the free end portion of a rolled or cast metal arm I 30, such arm-end portion being initially made of increased thickness at one point to there provide, on each of its two faces, a single solid projection 28a. The projections 28 of the arm l3, as best shown in Figs. 3, '7 and 18, and the projections 28a of the arm I30, as best shown in Fig. 19, are of generally V-shapein longitudinal section, the oppositely inclined surfaces of each of said projections enabling the hereinafter described rollers of the retaining units to ride-up and down such projections. As here shown, the two oppositely inclined surfaces of each such arm projection vary in pitch 6r inclination, the inclined surface toward the bumper means of each such arm being somewhat steeper than the other inclined surface, to provide the desired resistance to doorclosing movement, as will be readily understood.

As heretofore pointed out, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the retaining unit is suitably connected to and enclosed by the automobile body H. Although such retaining unit maybe secured directly to the jamb wall 20 of such body (in which event, the arm bracket It would be extended inwardly into the door ill from the edge wall [5 relation to the longitudinal edges of such last mentioned arm face.

with which the automobile body u is suitably .spotewelded or otherwise rigidly secured to side edge flanges 3| of the body jamb wall 20, the disposition .of the intermediate portion 32 of such partition, to which portion the retaining unit-is here secured, preferably being somewhat inclined relative to'said body jamb wall 20, as shown. For 'the extension therethrough of the arm I 3, such intermediate portion 32 of the body partition 30 is rovided with a suitable slot 33 the lengthof which, if desired and as here shown, may be somewhat less than that of the body lamb wall slot 2 i The retaining unit illustrated in Figs. .1 to 6 inclusive includes a suitable casing, here formed of two simple and inexpensive sheet metal parts, namely, a casing base part 35 (see Fig. 5) and. a casing cover part 35, the middle portion 31 of such cover part being outwardly offset to provide within the casing a suitable chamber 38. For the economical securement of the two casin parts in assembled relation, the casing base part 35 is here provided with a laterally extending pe-v ripheral flange 39 which snugly surrounds the casing'cover part 36, the side-portions of said flange being provided with suitable tabs which may be readily bent over into engagement with theofl'set middle portion 31 of the casing cover part 36. As a result, the two casing parts are securely, locked or heldin assembled relationship. /7

portion 32 of ,the .body'partition 3B, with the aligned slots 42 and 43 of such casing in alignment with the partition slot 33. As here shown. two rivets 45 are utilized for rigidly securing said retaining unit casing. to such body partition, the end portions of the casing base plate 35 and the casing cover plate 36 and the intermediate portion 32 of said body partition being provided with suitable apertures (seeFig. 3) for the reception of such rivets, the apertures in the two casing parts being indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 by the ref erence numeral 46.

- To facilitate the movement of the arm i3 through the casing of this retaining unit (or the movement of such casing along such arm, in the event that the retaining unit is connected to and movable with the automobile door I0), and for cooperation with the projections 28 of such arm in releasably retaining the door H) in a predetermined open position, suitable rollable means are arranged within the chamber 38 of the casing of such retaining unit. In this particular retaining unit, the rollable means comprises two elongated rollable members 50 arranged in o posed relation and between which the arm I3 extends at all times, the rollable members all here .shown'being simple plain metal rollers o uniform diameter throughout their length, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated v 2,291,412" f 7 'in Figs. l to v inclusive, the retaining unit rollers 58 are yieldingly maintained in engagement .withthe opposite faces of the II by suitable spring means, such as the metal leaf springs 52.

. Although asingle leaf spring 52 may be provided for each roller 58, two such leaf springs are here between such roller and a lateral shoulder 54 of the casing cover part 38, said shoulders being formed by the offsetting of the intermediate portion 31 of such casing cover part. As best shown in Fig. 4, the leaf springs 52-are of longitudinally arched form, with the arches of such springs operating with the medial portions of-the rollers 58 in normally urging them towardeach other and into yieldable engagement with the two faces of the arm i3. Although the rollers 58 here shown are of relatively small diameter, deflection provided for each such roll'eig 'the effect of which is to materially prolong thelifeof such springs. .The two springs 52 for each roller 58 arelocated through such rollers during door-opening moveof such rollers by the arm I3 is effectively prevented, due to the fact that the pressure of the leaf springs 52 is exerted upon or applied to intermediate portions of such rollers. as will be readily understood.

Because of the connection of the arm N to the automobile door l8, such arm, upon opening movement of said door, is drawn or pulled along and between the two retaining unit rollers I8 of the automobile body, the arm during such movement being yieldingly supported on the lower roller 58 and being yieldingly engaged from above by the upper roller 58. Continued opening movement of such door results in the projections 28 of the arm l3 being brought into engagement with the retaining unit rollers, said rollers moving in opposite directions or divergent- 1y, against the pressure of their springs 52, sufficiently to permit such arm projections to pass .therebetween. Immediately thereafter, the rollers 58 move, by the pressure of their springstoward each other and behind the more abrupt heretofore pointed out; those inclined surfaces of thegarm projections 28 which are toward thearm bumper member 22 are the retaining surfaces of such arm projections. and hence such inclined surfaces are more abrupt than the other inclined surfaces of such arm projections. For

that reason, therefore-somewhat more effort is necessary to anove'the arm projections through- ,the'rollers 58 during door-closing movement than is necessary. to move such arm projections ment, as will be readily understood.

- In th retaining unit shown in Figs. 1 to c m-g clusive, some slippage or sliding movement of the rollers 58 relative to the arm I3 is inevitable. In the modified form of retaining unit illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, the twoelongated rollers. 58a of such unit are so mounted in the chamber thereof as to materially reduce the slippage of such rollers relative'to the am which is used with such unit, such as the arm N, Fig. I. L

the arm Ila, Fig. 19, orv the arm llc, Fig. 21. The reduction in-slippage of the rollers 58a of 1 this modified form of retaining unit is accominclined surfaces of such arm projections, with the consequent releasable retention of the door l8 in a predetermined open position. Although checking end face 23 of the arm bumper member 22, and the door I8 being releasably held or retained in an open position, as here shown.

Upon closing movement of the door I8, the arm i3 is pushed by such door in the reverse direction, said arm moving between the rollers 58 of the retaining unit, as'will be readily understood.

Upon initiation of such door-closing movement,

the arm projections 28 are moved between and through such rollers and thereafter the door may be freely swung to closed position. Due to the provision of the inclined surfaces of the arm projections 28, exceedingly little manual effort is necessary to move such arm projections between and through the rollers 58, either during dooropening movement or during door-closing movement, the rollers 58 riding up and down the inclined surfaces of said arm projections. As

plished by providing such rollers with slidable journal bearings, upon which is exerted or to which is applied the pressure for yieldingly maintaining such rollers in engagement with the arm which extends'therebetween in the use of such retaining unit.

As best shown in Figs. 18 and 11, the rollers 58a of this retaining unit have reduced end portions 88, for which are provided suitable journal bearings, such as the sheet metal horseshoe journ'al bearings 8|. For a reason which will later appear, the cover of the casing of this particular retaining unit is made in two parts, each such casing cover part 38a having an offset portion 31a which together provide the checking face of this retaining unit and which together constitute the outer wall of the casing chamber in which are arranged the rollers 58a. By providing registering notches in the fr tions of said offset casing cover po ions a, a suitable slot 43a is provided in said casing cover for the extension therethrough of the arm which is used with this retaining-unit, the casing base part 35a of this retaining unit having a suitable slot 42:: in alignmentiwith the casing cover slot 43a for the reception of such arm. As best shown in Fig. 9, the roller journal bearings 8| are arranged in the chamber of this retaining unit casing with the generally parallel side portionsof suchhearings in slidable engagement with the casing base part 35a and the offset casing cover portions 31a and with the openings 82 (see Fig. 11) of adjacent and opposed journal bearings toward each other.

To prevent the production of a compressing effect upon the generally parallel side portions of the roller journal bearings 8|, and the consequent prevention of a binding effect upon the reduced end portions 88 of the rollers 58a, the

free side edge portions of the two offset casing cover portions 31a are provided, at theends of the arm-receiving slot 83a, with turned in flanges 55 which engage those portions of the casing base vpart 35a whichlie at the ends of the arm-receiving slot 42a thereof. As a result, the depth of the casing chamber of this particular retaining unit, between the casing base part 35a and the ofiset casing cover portions 31a, is not reduced by the application of pressure to the checking face of such offset casing cover portions, such as the pressure applied to such casing cover edg porportions by the assembly-maintaining tabs 40a of the casing base part flange 390 or the checking presure applied to such casing cover portions by an arm bumper member (such as the bumper member 22 shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and Fig. 7 or the hereinafter described bumper member 220 shown in Figs. 18 and 21 when such bumper member engages such casing cover portions in the production of a door-checking or door-arresting action.

As in the retaining u iit of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, suitable spring .nieans, such as the metal leaf springs 52a, are utilized in the retaining unit of Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive foryieldingly main taining the rollers 50a in engagement with the.

two faces of the arm which extends therebetween in the use of such unit. As best shown in Fig. 8, however, the disposition of the leaf springs 52a in the casing chamber of the retaining unit of Figs. 8 to' 11 inclusive is reverse to that of the leaf springs 52 in the casing chamber of the retaining unit of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. In other words, in the casing chamber of the retaining unit of Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, the end portions of the leaf springs 52a, rather than the arched intermediate portions thereof, cooperate with or are effective upon the rollers 50a in yieldingly maintaining them in engagement with the arm which normally extends therebetween. As shown in Fig. 8, however, the ends of the leaf springs 52a do not directly engage the rollers 50a but the curved portions 68 (see Fig. 11) of the journal bearings 6| therefor, with the result that such rollersare free at all times for rotation within their journal bearings.

To prevent possible deflection of the rollers 50!: by .the arm which extends therebetween in the use of this embodiment of the present invention, th diameter of each of the rollers 50a is somewhat larger than that of each of the rollers 50 of the retaining unit of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, as will be readily apparent from a comparison of the rollers 50 and 50a. As clearly shown in Fig. 11, however, the diameter of the rollers 50a is less than the depth of the journal bearings 6| therefor, so that there is no liability of such rollers contacting the casing part of this retaining unit with the production of a retarding effect upon the free rolling action of such rollers.

If desired, journal hearings of tubular or annular form may be utilized with the reduced end portions 60 of the rollers 50a, rather than the U-shaped or horse-shoe journal bearings 6| shown in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive. In Figs. 12 and 13 Of the accompanying drawings, the reduced end portions Ella of the elongated roller are provided with such tubular or annular journal bearings, said bearings being indicated by the reference numeral 61a. Because of their economical-formation by a simple stamping operation, and because of their greater surface contact with the casing base and cover parts, the horseshoe journal bearings of Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive are probably preferable to the tubular or annular journal bearings Sla of Figs. 12 and 13,

although the use of either form of journal bearing is satisfactory.v

In the modified form of retaining unit illustrated in Figs, 14 and 15, suitable resilient material, such as rubber or the like, is utilized for yieldingly maintaining the elongated rollers 50c of such unit in engagement with the arm (such as the arm l3, Fig. '7, the arm I3, Fig. 19, or the arm I3, Fig. 21) which extends between such rollers in the us of such retaining unit. As there shown, a generally flat block of rubber or like resilient material 12 is provided for such cooperation with each of said rollers 500, said rollers and the journal bearings Slb therefor being identical with those utilized in the retaining unit of Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive. Unlike the casing chambers of the retaining units heretofore described, the chamber of the casing of the retaining unit of Figs. 14 and 15 is substantially coextensive in size with such casing, the generally flat one-piece cover part 366 of such casing having practically its entire area spaced from the corresponding area of the casing bas part 351) for the formation of such casing chamber. Although any suitable spacing means for the casing base and cover parts 35b and 3512 may be utilized, the means shown in Figs. 14 and 15 for such purpose includes the laterally extending peripheral flan e 16 of said casing cover part, which flange engages or abuts the casing base part 351) and lies just'inside the oppositely extending peripheral flange 39b thereof. In addition, th casing base and cover parts 35b and 36b here shown are provided around the aligned apertures 46b thereof (apertures which are provided for the reception of attaching rivets or the like) with tubular bosses 78 which extend into the casing chainber ,for inter-engagement or abutting relationship. As a result, substantially the entire areas of the casing base and cover parts 35b and 365 ar positively or rigidly maintained in spaced relation, the two casing parts being maintained in assembly by the bent over tabs 40b of the casing base part flange 39b,

Although the resilient blocks 12 may be of any suitable size and shape, the two here shown conform in size and shape with the casing chamber in which\they are arranged, said blocks here having a press flt relationship with the casing cover part 3622. As a result, the assembly of such yieldable blocks with said casing cover part 36b is easily effected and readily maintained during the assembly and disassembly of the casing cover and base parts of thi retaining unit, the assembly of such casing cover and base parts being maintained by the bent over tabs 40b of the casing base flange 39b, as heretofore referred to. Suitableapertures 80 are provided, of course, in the blocks 12 for the reception of the casing bosses l8, and to conveniently provide the necessary space for displacement of the rubber or like material of such blocks, when the rollers 500 with which they cooperate are moved further apart by the passage therebetween of the arm pro- .iections heretofore referred to, the block apertures 80 are made of larger size than such casing bosses, as clearly shown in Figs. 14 and 15. However, othercavities than those formed by enlargement of the apertures 80 may be utilized for the displacement of the material of the blocks 12, as will be readily-understood.

If desired, the journal bearings Glb for the rollers 500 may be directly engaged by the adjacent end surfaces of the resilient blocks 12. Preferably, however, suitable bearing elements or plates are provided for such block end surfaces and th roller journal bearings Bib are engaged by such bearing plates. The metal bearing plates 8! here utilized for such purpose are of channel form in cross-section, as clearly shown in Fig. 15, and are securely maintained upon the adjacent end portions of the blocks 12 by the elastic character of said blocks, as will be readily understood. If desired and as here is of rigid character.

shown, each of the bearing plates 8| may be provided with a longitudinal groove of concave form, to conform with the curvatur of those portions 68d of the roller journal bearings 6 lb which such bearing plates engage. 1

In Figs. 16 and 1'7, a retaining unit similar to the retaining unit of Figs. 14 and 15 is illustrated. In the retaining unit of Figs. 16 and 17,

however, no journal bearings are provided for the elongated rollers 50d, such rollers being plain metal rollers like the rollers 50 of the retaining unit of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, although the rollers 50d preferably have a diameter somewhat greater than that of the rollers 50 for increasedstrength and rigidity. As clearly shown in Fig. 16, the intermediate portions, of the bearing plates 8la for the resilient blocks 12a are depressed or inwardly offset relative to the rollers 50d, with the result that only the end portions of said rollers and said bearing plates are in engagement. Because of the rigid character of such rollers, however, they are not deflected by the movement therebetween of the arm which extends between such rollers in the use of this retaining unit.

The retaining unit illustrated in Figs. 23 to 25 inclusive differs from the retaining unit of Figs.

1 8 to 11 inclusive only in that it has associated therewith a guiding and cushioning member 85 for the arm l3b which extends through such unit and through the guiding and cushioning memher thereof. The function of such guiding and cushioning member, as its name indicates, is to guide and cushion such arm in its movement through said unit, and thereby prevent any high velocity contact between thelongitudinal edges of such arm and the end edges of the casing slots 42b and 43b. of this retaining unit. The arm guiding and cushioning member 85, as shown in Figs. 23 to 25 inclusive, is a generally flat ringlike member of rubber or other resilient material, and is maintained in assembly with this particular unit bythe tongues 86 of the intermediate offset portions 310 of the casing cover parts 36c; In the production of the door-checking action with this particular retaining unit, the bumper member (not shown) of the arm l3b contacts the checking face of this resilient guiding and cushioning member 85, rather than the rigid or substantially rigid offset casing cover portions 31c thereof. As a result, a yieldable checking action is produced, even if such bumper member If desired, arm guiding and cushioning means, such as the member 85 of Figs. 23 to 25 inclusive, may be associated with any of the other retaining units here illustrated, as will be readily understood.

As heretofore pointed out, with a door-checking and door-holding device of the character of the one shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the opening movement of the door I0 is yieldingly checked or arrested by the engagement of the generally flat end checking face 23 of the resilient bumper member 22 with the generally fiat rigid or substantially rigid, checking face of the retaining unit of such device ,(the checking face of such retaining unit being, of course, the outer surface of its offset casing cover portion 31). In order to enable the door ID to be releasably held against undesired closing, with a device like that of Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the checking of such door must be delayed, of course, until after the retaining unit rollers 50 close in behind the more or less abrupt retaining shoulders of the arm projections 28. Inasmuch as the closing in" force exerted upon such rollers by their leaf springs 52 is very great, the velocity of the closing in" movement of such rollers is quite high., Inasmuch as it is frequently necessary, because, of

some particular vehicle door or body .construction, to locate the arm projections 28 at an angle greater or less than ninety degrees to the line of the pull of such arm, the aforesaid closing in movement of the rollers produces a very considerable side thrust on said arm. As a result, saidarm is thrown with considerable velocity toward the ends of the slots through which it moves (such as the retainlng unit slots 42, 43) and if such sidewise movement of said arm is arrested by a metallic surface or the like, a'more or less objectionable clicking noise is produced. If

a resilient cushioning member is provided for cushioning of such arm sidewise movement is concerned. Moreover, the sudden uncushioned arresting of the closing in movement of the retaining element or elements (such as the rollers 50 in' the device of Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive) produces a more or less objectionable clicking noise, as will bereadily understood.

These objections to door-checking and d oorholding devices of the character of the one shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive may be easily, effectively and more or less permanently avoided by so constructing the checking means of such a deviceas to produce a multiple-stage checking action. As the result of the initial or preliminary stage of 'such checking action (a checking stage which is "of yieldable character and relatively slight-as compared with a later stage), the closing in movement of the retaining elements or rollers is effectively retarded and thereby cushioned,

with a consequent retardation of sidewise'movement of said arm and the avoidance of the aforesaid clicking "noises.

Although such a multiple-stage checking action can be produced in several ways, one simple and economical manner of effecting its production is by making the-checking face of the arm bumper member of concave or hollowed-out form, an example of which is the checking face 23a of the arm bumper member 22a of Figs. 18 and 21. In the use of a door-checking and doorholding device having an arm bumper member of the character shown in Figs. 18 and 21, a relatively small area of the checking face of such bumper member, namely, the projecting lip at the periphery of such face, initially engages the checking face of the retaining unit of such device during door-opening movement and the relatively slight checking action thus produced effectively cushions the closing in movement of the retaining elements or rollers, as will be readmovement of, the door with which such checking and holding device is used.

If it is desired to releasably hold or retain a door in any one of a number of predetermined open positions, an arm of the character disclosed shown in Fig. 21, the arm Be is provided on each of its two faces with a plurality of longitudinally I spaced projections 2812, the formation of which, like the formation of the projections 28 of the arm l3, may be eflected by a simple stamping operation. By the use of an arm of the character illustrated in Fig. 21, three longitudinally spaced areas, indicated bythe reference numerals 90 to 92 inclusive, are provided forcooperation with retaining unit rollers, such as the rollers 50a of Fig. 22, in releasably holding or retaining a door in any one of a corresponding number of predeterminedopen positions.

Although each of the retaining units here illustrated and described includes two opposed elongated rollers, for engagement with opposite faces of the arm which extends between such rollers in the use of such retaining unit, it is obvious that a retaining unit having'but a single roller for engagement with such arm may be utilized,

if desired. For example, the lower roller and the means for normally maintaining it in yield-- able supporting engagement with such an arm may be dispensed with, and said arm supported on the casing of the retaining unit for slidable lower face of said arm will be free of any retaining projections, recesses or the like. Or, if desired, the lower roller may be utilized and the movement therealong. In such an event, the

upper roller (and'the means for maintaining it held or retained against undesired closing or in' an open position or condition, it is not necessary, of course, that there be such engagement of the roller or rollers of a retaining unit and the arm used with such unit. If desired, a retaining unit may be utilized in which the roller or rollers thereof are normally spaced from the arm which extends through such unit, the retaining unit roller or rollers being located for cooperation only with the projection or projec-' tions of said/arm, in the manner heretofore referred to, in releasably holding or retaining the door in an open position. Resilient means for each such roller would be provided, of course, to enable such cooperation to be effective for releasable door retention, and movement of each such roller in a direction away from said arm would be yieldingly resisted by the resilient means for such roller, all as will be readily understood.

From the foregoing description of the devices here illustrated, it will be apparent that such devices are each adapted to perform the twofold function of checking the opening movement of a hinged door, such as an automobiledoor,

and, of releasably holding or retaining such a door against undesired closing or in an open position or condition.

If a door-checking device only is desired, it is merely necessary to eliminate from any of the arms here shown the retaining projections thereof, such as the projections 28 from the arm it,

for example. If a door-holding device onlyis desired, it is merely necessary to eliminate from any of the arms here shown the bumper means thereof, and to otherwise so check the opening movement of the door with which such device is used that disassembly of thearm and the re taining unit willnot be eflfected during dooropening movement, all as will be readily-understood. a I

Other features and advantages or the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in' the art to which it relates.

What I claim is:

1. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be associated with one of said structures and provided with an elongated roller, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend along said retaining means, said arm having 'means for cooperation with said roller in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, and said retaining means having slidable journal bearings of horseshoe form for the end portions of the roller thereof and also having resilient means effective upon said journal bearings for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller in a direction from said arm.

2. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising intaining means adapted to be associated with one of said structures and provided with rollable means, an arm' adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend along said retaining means-said arm having means for cooperation with said rollable means in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position; said retaining means having resilient means of rubber-like materi l for/yieldingly resisting movement of said ro able means in a direction from said arm, and a bearing element carried by said resilient means for en agement with said rollable means.

3. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open'position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be associated with one of said structures and provided with an elongated roller, an arm adapted to be associated with the other, of said structures and to extend along said retaining means, said arm having means for cooperation with said roller in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said retaining means having resilient means for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller in a direction from said arm, and an elongated bearing element interposed between said roller and said resilient means and upon which said resilient means is effective, said bearing element having engagement with said roller only at the end portions thereof.

4. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be associated with one of said structures and provided with an elongated roller, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend along said retaining means, said arm having an open position, and said retaining means hav inga longitudinally @rclied leaf spring for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller in a direction from .said arm, the arched intermediate portion of said leaf spring being engageable with an intermediate portion of said roller.

5. A device for rele ably holding or retaining in an open'position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining meansadapted ,to be associated with one of saidstructuresand provided with rollable 6. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position adoor structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be associated with one of said structures and provided with an elongated roller, an arm adapted to be-associated with the other of said structures and to extend along said retaining means, said arm having means for cooperation with said roller in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, and said retaining means hav-' in yieldingly hecking. the

openingmovement of said 'door structure. 4

.9. A device for checkingthe opening move-,

. vice comprising retaining means adapted to be associatedwith one of said structures, and an arm adapted to be associated with the other of ing journal bearings for the end portions of the roller thereof and also having a leaf spring for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller in a direction from said arm, the-end portions of said leaf spring being engageable with said journal bearings.

open position, one of the projections of said arm having checking contact with said retaining means in checking the opening movement of'said door struc ure. a a

10. A evice for releasably holding-or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to beass'ociated with one of said structuresand provided with an elongated roller and with spaced bearings therefor. an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend along said retaining means, said arm having means for co-- operation with said roller in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said roller and its bearings being movable toward and from said arm, and. said retaining means also having resilient means effective upon "7. A device for yieldingly checking the opening movement of a door structure hinged on a supporting structure'and for releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be associated with one of said structures, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend through said retaining means, said retaining means being provided with resilient guiding means for said arm,

said arm having means, for cooperation .with 'rollable means with which said retaining means is provided in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said retaining means also being provided with resilient means for yieldingly resisting movement of the reliable means thereof in a direction from said arm, and

said arm also having bumper means for check- 8. A device'jfor checking the opening move- I ment of a door structure hinged on a supporting structure and for releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said device comprising-a generally flat chambered cas- 1 ing'adapted to be associated with one of said structures, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend through said casing and the chamber thereof, rollable means in said casing chamber, means on said arm for cooperation with said rollable means in releasably holding or retaining said 'docr structure in an open position, resilient means in said casing chamber for yieldingly resisting movement of said rol-lable means in a direction from said arm, and resilient bumper means on said arm for checking contact with said casin both of said bearings for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller and its hearings in a direction from said arm.

11. A device for checking the opening movement of a'door structure hinged on a supporting structure and for releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be 7 associated with one of said structures and provided with oppositely spaced rollers of elongated form, an armadaptd to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend between the spaced rollers of said retaining means, said arm having projecting means for cooperation with at least one of said rollers in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said retaining means also being providedwith resilient means for each of the rollers thereof for yieldingly resisting movement of each such roller in a direction from said arm, and said arm also having bumper means for checking contact with a part of that structure with which the rollers are associated in checking the opening movement of said door structure.

12. A device for checking theopening movefrom said arm and said arm having longitudinal-.

ly spaced projections for the releasable retention therebetweenof said retaining element, whereby said door structure may be releasably held or retained in an open position, one of the projections of said arm being of resilient character and having checking contact with said retaining means in yieldingly checking the opening movement of said door structure.

13. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be associated with one of said structures and having two oppositely spaced surfaces, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend through such retaining means, said retaining means being provided with an elongated roller and with spaced bearings therefor, said roller and 1 its bearings being movable between such oppo sitely spaced surfaces toward and from said arm and said roller being spaced from such surfaces by its bearings, said retaining means being also provided with resilient means effective upon said bearings for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller and its bearings in a direction from said arm, and said arm being provided with means for cooperation with said roller in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position.

14. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted-to be associatedv with one of said structures and having two oppositely spaced surfaces, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend through such retaining means, said retaining means being provided with an elongated roller and with spaced bearings therefor, said roller and its bearings being movable between such oppo sitely spaced surfaces toward and from said arm, said bearings having engagement with said surfaces and being of such size as to maintain said roller spaced therefrom, said retaining means being also provided with resilient means effective upon said bearings for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller and its hearings in a direction from said arm, and said arm being provided with means for cooperation with said roller in releas; ably holding or retaining said door structure in, an open position.

15. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising a generally fiat chambered casing adapted to be associated with one of said structures and having two oppositely spaced walls, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend through said casing and the chamber thereof, spaced journal bearings in said casing chamber engageable with and movable along said oppositely spaced casing walls; an elongated roller rotatably mounted in said journal bearings, resilient means effective upon said journal bearings for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller and its bearings in a direction from said arm, the diameter of said roller being less than the corresponding dimension of each of said journal bearings so that said roller is spaced from such oppositely spaced casing walls by said bear-t ings, and said arm being provided with means for cooperation with said roller in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position.

16. A device for yieldingly checking the opening movement of a door structure hinged on a supporting structure and for releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said device comprising an arm adapted to be associated with one of said structures, a retaining element adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and being movable toward and from said arm, resilient means normally urging said retaining element toward said arm, said arm being provided with means for cooperation with said retaining element in releasably holding or retaining the door structure in an open position,-said retaining element being movable toward said arm in effecting such cooperation, and checking means carried by said arm for checking contact witha checking means of that structure with which the retaining element is associated, with the consequent checking of the opening movement of the door structure, the construction of at least one of said checking means being of such character as to produce a multiple-stage checking action, the first or preliminary stage being of yieldable character and relatively slight as compared with a later stage, with the consequent cushioning of the movement of said retaining element toward said arm in effecting the aforesaid cooperation.

. 17. A device foryieldingly checking the opening movement of a door structure hinged on a supporting structure and'for releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said device comprising an arm adapted to be associated with one of said structures, a retaining element adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and being movable toward and from said arm, resilient means for normally urging said retaining element toward said am. said arm being provided with means for cooperation with said retaining element in releasably holding or retaining the door structure in an open position, said retaining element being movable toward said arm in efiecting such cooperation, and checking means carried by said arm for checking contact with 'a checking means of that structure with which the retaining element is associated, with the consequent checking of the opening movement of the door structure, one of said checking means being provided with resilient projecting means for producing a multiple-stage checking action, the first or preliminary stage being of yieldable character and relatively slight as compared with a later stage, with the consequent cushioning of the movement of said retaining element toward said arm in effecting the aforesaid cooperation.

18. A device for yieldingly checking the opening movement of a door structure hinged on a supporting structure and for releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open posi- A 7 tion, said device comprising an arm adapted to be associated with one of said structures, a retaining element adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and being movable toward and from said am, resilient means normally urging said retaining element toward said arm, said armbeing provided with means for cooperation with said retaining element in releasably holding or retaining the door structure in an open position, said retaining element being movable toward said arm in effecting such cooperation, and checking means carried by said arm and having a checking face for checking contact with a checking face of that structure with'whichthe retaining element is associated, with the consequent checking of the opening movement of the 'door structure, one of said checking faces being of generally concave form for producing a -multiple-stage checking action,

\ the first or preliminary stage being of yieldable 1o the movement of said retaining element toward said am in effecting the aforesaid cooperation.

19.-A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device compris ing retaining means adapted ,to be associated with one of said structures and provided with roilable means, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend along said. retaining means,- said arm having means for cooperation with said roilable means roilable means in a direction from said arm, the

arched intermediate portion of said leaf spring being effective upon said roilable means.

20. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to be associated with one said aligned slots for limiting the movement of said two roilable means toward each other.

24. A device for releasably holding open a door structure hinged ona supporting structure, said 5 device comprising oppositely spaced retaining elements adapted to be associated with one of I said structures, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend between said retaining elements, said arm being provided with projections for cooperation with said retaining elements in releasabiy holding the door structure open, there being two such projections on one face of said arm, one adjacent each longitudinal edge thereof, and there being another such projection on the opposite face of saidarm in spaced relation to the longitudinal edges thereof, whereby the effect of torsional stress on said arm during the aforesaid'cooperation is counteracted, and resilient .means for yieldingly resisting movement of each of said reof said structures and provided with an elongated roller, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend along said retaining means, said arm having means for cooperation with said roller in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, and said retaining means also having a leaf spring for yieldingly resisting movement of said roller in a direction from said am, the end portions of said leaf spring being effective upon the end portions of said roller.

21. In a device for releasabiy holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged upon a supporting structure, a retaining unit comprising a generally fiat chambered casing having base means and cover means, said base means and said cover means being provided with aligned apertures for the reception of an arm, two reliable means in the chamber of said casing on opposite sides of said aligned apertures, resilient means in said casing chamber for normaliy urging said two roilable means toward each other, and means carried by one of said casing means .for limiting the movement of said two roilable means toward each other.

22. In a device for releasably holding or retaining in an open. position a door structure hinged upon a supporting structure, a retaining unit comprising a generally flat chambered casing having base means and cover means, said base means and said cover means being provided with aligned apertures for the reception of an arm, two roilable means in the chamber of said casing on opposite sides of said aligned apertures, resilient means in saidcasing chamber for normally urging said two roilable means toward each other, and means carried by one of said. casing means and engaging the other casing means for limiting the movement of said two roilable means toward each other. Y

23. In a device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, a retaining unit comprising a.generally fiat chambered casing having base means and cover means, said base means and said cover means being provided with. aligned slots for the reception of an arm, two roilable means of elongated form in the chamber of said casing onopposite sides of said chamber for normally urging said two roilable means toward each other, and means carried by one of said casing means adJacent the ends of taining elements in a direction from said arm.

25. A door checkcomprising a bracket and an arcuately bent rigid element movable relative thereto, resilient means in said bracket and engaging opposite sides of said rigid element, said rigidelement having a portion of its length 7 formed with outwardly diverging surfaces immediatelyf adjacent one of its ends adapted to be engaged by said resilient means upon relative 3 movement of said bracket and element, the

aligned slots, resfiient means 'in said casing 1 length of said portion comprising a small fraction of the length of said rigid element.

26. A device of the character described, for association with two relatively movable members,

35 comprising an arm connected to one of said.

- members, a cushioning memberQconnected to the other of said members, means including a butler formed on said arm for defining a recess thereon,

27. In a cushioning device for association with an arm of a door check or the like, the combination of means defining an enclosing housinghaving openings in the opposite sides thereof to accommodate said arm, a pair of opposed resilient .members disposed in'said housing and positioned with said openings between the opposed facesv thereof, and a pair of bearing elements freely received in said housing in abutting relation to said faces and biased by said members to yieldingly grip said arm.

I 28. In a cushioning device for association with an arm of a door check or the like, the combination of means defining an enclosing housing hav- 55 ing openings in the opposite-sides thereof'to accommodate said arm, a pair of opposed -re-.

silient members disposed in said housing and positioned with said openings between the opposed faces thereof, and a pair of generally cylindrical bearing elements in said housing in abutting relation to said members and biased by said members to grip said arm, said elements being disposed to be gradually rotatively moved by movement between the arm andthe device so 'as to equalize wear thereon.

29. A device of the character described for association with two relatively movable members comprising an arm connected to one of the members and having an abutment thereon, and a cushioning means provided with an opening therethrough connectedto the other member for cooperating with said abutment to form -a posi- 'tive limit to movement of said movable members, said arm extending through said opening inail positions of said members and being disposed to means comprising a bearing means adapted to slidably engage the arm, and a resilient means acting'on the bearing means so as to cause the bearing means to frictionally hold the arm in any of a plurality of intermediate positions of the movable members.

30. A device of the character described for association with two relatively movable members, comprising an arm connected to one of the members and having an abutment thereon, said arm being disposed to project into the other member, and a cushioning means connected to the other member and adapted to cooperate with the abutment to form a positive limit to movement of the members, said cushioning means having an opening therethrough through which said arm extends in all positions of the members, said cushioning means comprising means adapted to slidably engage the arm, and a resilient means acting on the bearing means so as to cause the bearing means to frictionally hold the arm in any of a plurality of positions, and said arm having a recess therein to receive a part of the cushioning means and retain said members in a predetermined position.

31. In a cushioning device for association with an arm of a door check or the like, the combination of a housing comprising spaced inner and outer enclosing surfaces provided with openings through which said arm may move, bearing means confined between said surfaces and adapted to engage said arm, and resilient means confined between said surfaces for urging said bearing means into engagement with the arm.

32. In a cushioning device for association with an arm of a door check or the like, the combination of a housing comprising spaced inner and outer enclosing surfaces provided with openings through which said arm may move, and a pair of retractable members confined between said surfaces and adapted to yieldingly grip the arm between them.

33. A door check comprising a bracket and an arcuately bent rigid element movable relative thereto, resilient means in said bracket and engaging opposite sides of said rigid element, said rigid element having a portion of its length formed with outwardly diverging surfaces immediately adjacent one of its-ends adapted to be engaged by said resilient means upon relative movement of said bracket and element, the length of said portion comprising a small fraction of the length of said rigid element, and said.

rigid element having notches immediatelyladjacent the narrowest partof said diverging portion and adapted to be engaged by said resilient means.

34. In a cushioni device for association with an arm of a door check or the like, the combination of a housing formed of a pair of telescopically related cup-like members, opposed resilient elements receivedin said housing, and opposed bearing elements positioned between said compressible elements and adapted to receive said arm between them and yieldingly grip said arm.

35. In a cushioning device for association with an arm of a door check or the like, the combination of a housing comprising a pair of telescopically related cup-like element having openings through the bases thereof to accommodate said arm, and retractable means confined within said housing and adapted to'yieldingly grip the arm between them.

36. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element havinga cushion on one end thereof, an abutment on said movable element spaced from said cushion, bearings engaging opposite sides of said slidable element, resilient means supporting said bearings spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of said abutment, said slidable element having opposed cam-like surfaces adapted to act respectively in conjunction with said bearings in impelling lengthwise movement of said movable element in opposite directions.

37. In a door check, a lengthwise movable element having a cushion on one end thereof, an abutment on said movable element spaced from said cushion, opposed anti-friction bearings adapted to engage opposite sides of saidmovable element, and resilient means normally supporting said bearings spaced apart a distance less than the thickness of said abutment, said slidable element having opposed cam-like surfaces adapted to act respectively in conjunction with said bearings in impelling lengthwise movement of said movable element in opposite directions.

38. A device for releasably holding or retaining in an open position a door structure hinged on a supporting structure, said device comprising retaining means adapted to'be associated with one of said structures and provided with rollable means, an arm adapted to be associated with the other of said structures and to extend alon said retaining means, said arm having means for cooperation with said rollable means in releasably holding or retaining said door structure in an open position, said retaining means having resilient means of rubberlike material for yieldingly resisting movement of said rollable means in a direction from said-arm, and a bearing element for engagement with said rollable means, said bearing element being interposed between said resilient means and said rollable means.

RUDOLPH I. SCHONITZER. 

